Underground Favorites Mirroring the Impact of Lasca: Cult Guide

Dir: Norman Dawn

A convict, wrongfully accused and sent a harsh prison colony, attempts to escape.

Dir: Norman Dawn

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Lure of the Yukon perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A story of the Alaskan gold-rush days, filmed in Alaska, finds Bob Force (Buddy Roosevelt, as Kent Sanderson) saving the heroine, Sue McCraig (Eva Novak), and her holdings from the clutches of evil Dan Baird (Howard Webster.

Dir: Norman Dawn

Marama Thurston leaves her fashionable boarding school in America when her ailing father Jim Thurston, a plantation owner on Fiji, begs her to protect the rubber crop from his thieving son-in-law. Upon arriving on the island, Marama learns that she is a half-caste. Traumatized, she assumes native customs and agrees to marry Ratu Madri, the island's ruler. Templeton, an American fugitive living on Fiji, falls in love with her, but Marama rejects him, having pledged herself already to the Fiji chief. As Marama dances the prenuptial rite, Templeton attempts to rescue her. The natives seize the American, and Marama threatens suicide if they harm him. The couple escape during a hurricane, and soon after a yacht arrives with the news that Templeton has been exonerated of murder charges. Their problems thus resolved, they return to America to wed.

Dir: Norman Dawn

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Adorable Savage perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

In the Alaskan region of Unalik, Professor Norris studies Eskimo culture. His daughter Aurora is devoted to David Waters, a youth of weak character who has been reared in the family. Despite her disinterest in other men, the primitive and passionate "Wiki" Jack Horn is determined to win her. After David's death in an avalanche, Aurora begins to admire Wiki's steadfast courage and submits to his overpowering love.

Dir: Norman Dawn

A boy, who has been reading the adventures of Sinbad, falls asleep and, in his dreams, goes through Sinbad's experiences.

Dir: Norman Dawn

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Wolves of the North perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A secret service man appears as a ne'er-do-well, who later demonstrates his ability and courage rounding up a gang of smugglers.

Dir: Norman Dawn

Dulce, last of the Alvarez family, lives with her mother in the Andes and is worshiped by Pancho, a half-caste. Gringo Burke, an American renegade, robs and kills her mother. Accusing Pancho of cowardice, Dulce vows to seek revenge. As a cafe dancer she meets Burke, and American derelict David Ross defends her against him. The eruption of Cotopaxi finishes off Burke and his gang, who have come to steal ore in the mines, and Dulce saves Ross from the burning lava.

Dir: Norman Dawn

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Sinbad, the Sailor perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

In Baja Mexico, poor shepherdess Isola Garcia agrees to marry aging rancher Don Pio Mendoza because he is dying and needs an heir for his fortune. She leaves the hacienda when she hears that bandits have raided her flock, and when a young American schooner captain, Paul Corbin, comes to her rescue, she falls in love. Then, as they walk on the beach, Mendoza's secretary arrives to inform her that Don Pio has recovered and wants her to return to him. The secretary takes her to a hotel, where he tries to convince her that he is the real Pio Mendoza, but she refuses to have relations with him unless he marries her the next morning at the church. That night, she encounters a young man, buys his clothes, and escapes the hotel in disguise. At the quay, Isola sees Paul's schooner in the distance and jumps into the water to swim to him. However, the gang has taken over the schooner and imprisoned Paul and his crew in the hold. With the aid of a marijuana-addled young bandit named Sanchez, Isola frees the crew, which subdues the Mexicans. Isola and Paul sail away together to the United States on the schooner.

Dir: Norman Dawn

Dr. John Niblock is conducting research in Japan when he is called to revive Asuti Hishuri, who has fainted during her wedding ceremony. Upon learning that Asuti is being forced into a loveless marriage, the chivalrous John offers to marry the girl in name only and take her to America where she can be free. When John and his Japanese bride arrive in San Francisco, California, the doctor's former sweetheart appears heartbroken, and Asuti realizes that she is in love with Ito, her husband's secretary. Asuti stages a love scene between Ito and herself to give her husband an excuse for denouncing her. The scheme works, thus making possible the happiness of all four.

Dir: Norman Dawn

Umluk, an Eskimo chief, falls into a crevice while hunting and is rescued by Dr. Wells, a distinguished Arctic explorer and scientist. Umluk returns to his igloo, where he finds Mike Burke, an ex-whaler who runs a trading post in partnership with Izzy Hawkins. Mike has been attempting to win the favor of Umluk's promised bride, the Eskimo-Russian Wamba, by giving her trinkets. Umluk forces Mike to leave, but the trader returns later and takes the willing Wamba away with him, forcing her sister, Nootka, to accompany them as their servant. Umluk learns of the betrayal from Izzy and pursues the party in a light sled. He soon catches sight of the three travelers, but an unlucky accident to his sled prevents him from reaching them. Umluk eventually finds the group in a rough settlement, and, after several trials and tribulations, returns to his icy home with the faithful Nootka, leaving the degraded Wamba behind.